Indicators of Cheating,

Theft and Crooked Play

By Jim Goding with thanks to Gary L. Powell

The following is a partial listing of "indicators," or "tells," of possible cheating or theft, internal or external, crooked play or advantage play. None of these tells is definite in itself. One, or especially more than one of these tells being present gives you a good reason for further investigation. They indicate that something might be wrong and the person bears further watching. Slot Cheaters and Thieves:

• Rubbernecking
  • Looking at the cameras, avoiding personnel, especially security and suits

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Table Games Cheats and Scammers

• General:
  • Rubbernecking
  • Tracking Pit Bosses

• Advantage Players:

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• Bet Cap and or pinch

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• Other Past-Post

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• Card Switch

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• False Claims
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• Card marking
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• Shiner
  • Eyes fixed on own hand, not following dealer motions
    • Eyes consistently divert to own hands as dealer cards dealt
  • Shiny surface in fixed position on table

• Cooler deck, false shuffle
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• Computer or card-counting device
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Dealers (collusion and theft) General:

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• Theft:
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• Collusion:
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Floor Supervisors, Box persons

• General:
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• Theft (often in collusion with dealers):
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• Marker Scams (collusion with players, requires dealer cooperation, even if under duress):
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• Collusion with dealer theft or cheating:
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• Rating and Comp Scams (collusion with players):
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This entire Copyright ©  1997, 2002, 2011 by Jim Goding, with expressed thanks to Gary L. Powell. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized sales or duplication by any means is a violation of law and of the proprietary rights of the authors.